Wagon-box rod.



No. 805,323. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. G. RIEPF.

WAGON BOX ROD.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 22, 1905. Serial No. 266,434.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GoTTLIEB RIEFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at London, in the county of Dane and State of Wis cousin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVagon-Box Rods; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wagon-box rods.

The object of this invention is to provide a rod of this character whereby the sides of a wagon will be securely clamped against the end-boards.

A further object is to provide a wagon-box rod in which the use of threads and nuts is obviated and which may be quickly and easily applied to a wagon to' clamp the sides of the same together.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the rear end of one side of the wagon-body, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side of the wagon. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation showing in full lines the arrangement of the rod and parts connected thereto in operative or locked position and in dotted lines the inoperative position of the parts, the locking-rod being shown partly withdrawn from the wagon. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the locking rod and lever removed from the wagon, and Fig. 5 is a similar view showinga modified form of the rod and lever.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 denote the opposite sides of the wagon; 3 denotes the end-boards of the same. The end-board 3 is provided with verticallydisposed cleats 4 and is adapted to slide between guide-strips arranged on the inner sides of the wagon, and in said cleats and sides of the wagon are formed alined keyhole-shaped apertures.

On the side 2 of the Wagon-body is secured a wear-plate 5, in which is formed a keyholeshaped aperture adapted to aline with the aperture in the sides of the wagon-body.

On the side 1 of the wagon is secured a keeper-plate 6,0n which is formed a cylindrical boss 7. The boss 7 is cut away or recessed to form a series of stepped surfaces 8, each of which lies in the plane at a slightly greater distance from the side of the wagon, as shown. In each of the surfaces 8 is formed a radiallydisposed retaining-notch 9.

Adapted to be projected through the alined keyhole-apertures in the sides of the wagon, the cleats'on the end-boards, and alined keyhole-shaped aperture 10, formed in the keeperplate 6 and boss 7, is a locking-rod 12, said rod having formed on one end a laterally-projecting lug 13, which when the rod is projected through the apertures in the sides of the wagon and in the keeper-plate is adapted to be engaged with one of the notches 9, formed in the surfaces 8 on the boss 7. The opposite end of the rod is bent at right angles to form a pivot, on which is pivotally mounted a clamping-lever 14, said lever being provided with a pair of fulcrum-lugs 15, which are adapted to engage and bear upon the wearplate 5 when the clamping-lever is brought to an operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. One of the lugs 15 is extended to the opposite side of the lever and has formed therein a series of apertures 16, by which said lever is adjustably pivoted upon the lug 13, whereby the devices are regulated for use in connection with difiierent sizes of wagon-boxes. The lug 13 is provided with a transversely-disposed aperture in which is arranged a cotter-pin 17, to retain the wagonlever on said lug. In applying the rod to the wagon-box the same is inserted through the apertures in the cleats on the end-boards of the wagon until the end of the rod projects beyond the innermost surfaces 8 of the boss 7, after which the rod is turned to bring the lug thereon into engagement with one of the notches formed in the surfaces 8. After the lug 13 has been engaged with the proper notch the clamping-lever 14: is pressed downwardly, thus rocking the same on the fulcrum-lugs 15 until a stop-lug 18 is brought into engagement with the wear-plate, which will securely lock or clamp the sides of the wagon against the end-boards of the same. The stop-lug 18 is arranged upon the lever 14 in such a position with relation to the pivot-holes therein that when said lever has been brought down to an operative position the same will be locked against casual movement, as will be understood.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings is shown a slightlymodified construction of the locking-rod and clamping-lever. In this instance the end of the rod upon which the lever is pivoted is the sides of the wagon together.

formed-with an offset-bearing aperture or eye 19, through which is adapted to project a pivotbolt 20, which is adapted to be passed through one of a series of apertures 21, formed in the bifurcated inner end of the clamping-lever 22, saidbit'urcated end of the lever being we tended beyond one side of the same to form fulcrum lugs 23, which are adapted to be brought into engagement with the wearing-- plate 5 on the wagon-body to draw or clamp The lever 22 is also provided with a stop-lug 24: to en gage said wear-plate when the lever has been brought to an operative position.

The locking rod and lever constructed as herein shown and described may be readily applied to a wagon-box to clamp and brace the sides of the same together, and while said rod is shown in engagement with the endboards of the wagon-body it is obvious that they may be used in any suitable position on the wagon or in any other connection in which a clamping device of this character may be employed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a locking-rod having a right-angularly-disposed lug formed on one end, means arranged on one side of the wagon with which said lugis ad justably engaged and means connected to the opposite ends of the rod to clamp the sides of the wagon-body together on said rod, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a locking-rod having a right-angularly-disposed lug formed on one end, a keeper-plate secured to one side of the wagon, graduated notches formed in said plate to receive said lug, and a clamping-lever pivotally connected to the opposite end of said rod to engage the opposite side of the wagon, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a locking-rod having a right-angularly-disposed lug formed on one end, a keeper-plate secured to one side of the wagon, said plate having formed thereon a boss, in which is formed an annular series of graduated radially-disposed notches to receive said lug, and a clamping-lever pivotally connected to the opposite end of said rod, to engage the opposite side of the wagon, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a locking-rod having a right-angularly-disposed lug formed on one end, a keeper-plate secured to one side of the wagon, said plate having formed thereon a boss in which is formed an annular series of graduated, radially-disposed notches to receive said lug, a clamping-lever, and offset right-singularly-disposedfulcrum-lugsformed on said lever one of said lugs having formed therein a series of apertures whereby said lever is adjustably connected to the opposite end of said rod, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a locking-rod having a right-angularly-disposed lug formed on one end, a keeper-plate secured to one side of the wagon, said plate having formed thereon a boss, an annular series of graduated surfaces formedon said boss said surfaces having formed therein radially-disposed notches to receive the lug on said locking-rod, a clamping-lever pivotally connected to the opposite end of said rod, means whereby said lever is adjustably pivoted on said rod, fulcrum-lugs formed on said lever, a stop-lug also formed on lever and a wear-plate against which said lugs are adapted to bear, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GOTTLIEB RIEFF.

Witnesses:

C. 0. MAY, HARRY 0. MAY. 

